15 Great Events For Summer

10th Annual Dance Parade & Festival

May 21 [All ages] Don’t miss the incredible display of cultural diversity that is the annual Dance Parade and Festival. This year marks the moving and grooving fest’s 10th anniversary, which will be celebrated with the theme “Decade of Dance.” Spectators will see 10,000 dancers celebrate 75 unique styles of dance and culture, from ballet to Zydeco, to the tune of live bands and DJs as they dance across downtown Manhattan. After the parade, head to Tompkins Square Park for DanceFest, which will feature dance lessons, roaming performers, and an epic dance party. Free, parade begins at 1pm and DanceFest runs from 3-7pm. Parade begins at 21st Street and Broadway, and ends at Tompkins Square Park, danceparade.org (Photo courtesy Dance Parade)

World Science Festival

June 1-5 [All ages] The World Science Festival comes to New York this year with a line-up of kid-friendly events that will delight all ages. On June 4-5, young scientists can design their own products, scan bones from an archeological dig, and geotrack wildlife as they learn alongside leading scientists during the Apprentice Program (tickets required); or join the Great Fish Count, helping ecologists count and release marine critters at 15 sites across the city. Don’t miss the fest’s culminating event, the 9th annual Ultimate Science Street Fair on Sunday (6/5) in Washington Square Park, where you can expect dazzling demonstrations and experiments for all ages, in addition to games, entertainment, and activities from 10am-6pm. Love the fair? Watch out for more events in NYC this year as the World Science Festival and Con Edison kick off their City of Science program, which will host one science-related event in each borough throughout 2016. The Street Festival is free and open to the public; other events require advance tickets. Various times and locations, worldsciencefestival.com (Photo by Greg Kessler / World Science Festival)

Mad. Sq. Kids

Starting June 9 [All ages] Bring your kiddos to Madison Square Park’s Farragut Lawn Thursday mornings starting June 9 to hear an eclectic mix of music during this free concert series! After the concerts, kids are invited to participate in “EXPLORE activities,” which cover a variety of themes, including: Art in the Park, Science and Nature, Playground Adventure, Stepping Through Time, Park Patrol, and Games. The concert lineup includes: KB Whirley on June 16, Josh and the Jamstones on June 23, Father Goose on June 30, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards on July 7, Sonia De Los Santos on July 14, Trout Fishing in America on July 28, and the Not-Its on July 28. Rain or shine; adult supervision is required. Free, 10:30am; Madison Square Park at Madison Avenue and 23rd Street, 212-520-7600, madisonsquarepark.org

Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island

June 11-12 & August 13-14 [All ages] The roaring ’20s Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island has become an annual destination for New Yorkers young and old to dress up and have some good ol’ fashioned fun. Wear your best flapper-style outfits, bring some snacks for a lawn picnic, and take the ferry to be transported to another time. Once again this year, Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra will delight the guests with big band dance numbers, joining an array of other music performances throughout the weekend. This all-ages, family-friendly event will have plenty of entertainment options for everyone, including Kidland, which features carnival games and prizes for junior “flappers and flapperettes,” dance lessons, a paper moon photo booth, an antique car exhibit, vintage clothing and gift vendors, ’20s-era inspired food and drinks, and more. Tickets start at $15. Children under the age of 12 do not need to purchase a ticket, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building, located at 10 South Street (on the corner of South and Whitehall Streets) starting at 10am, and from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 (at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Columbia Street) in Brooklyn starting at 11am; jazzagelawnparty.com (Photo courtesy Jazz Age Lawn Party)

Museum Mile Festival

June 14 [All ages] Enjoy a cultural night out on the town! This year marks the 38th annual Museum Mile Festival. With the opening ceremony starting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the festival also includes the Neue Galerie New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and El Museo del Barrio! Complete with outdoor art activities for children and musical performances, the event is fun, free culture for the whole family! Free, 6-9pm; 5th Avenue (82nd-105th Streets), 212-606-2296, museummilefestival.org (Image via nycgo.com)

"The New York Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes” at Radio City Music Hall

June 15-August 7 [All ages] Get ready for a face-kicking good time as the Rockettes line up for another mesmerizing performance! Set in the summertime on a family vacation to NYC, “The New York Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes” is the story of a magical adventure in the Big Apple. When two children are separated from their parents, the city of New York comes to life and helps (eventually) reunite them with their family. Tickets start at $39, show times vary. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, 212-465-6080, rockettes.com

Make Music New York

June 21 [All ages] Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Make Music New York with more than 1,000 free outdoor concerts on the first day of summer! Some of this year’s exciting events include a performance by legendary composer Philip Glass in Riverside Park, a swinging Second Line Parade led by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jason Olaine, a workshop for budding young electronic musicians at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza, and the Gauntlet on the High Line, where 60 singers will engage in a musical dialogue as the public is invited to walk through them and experience the piece at their own pace. Free, 10am-10pm. Various locations, makemusicny.org (Image via makemusicny.org)

Adventures NYC in Central Park

June 18 [All ages] Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! Explore the great outdoors with Adventures NYC, a day of extreme outdoor fun put on by the NYC Parks Department. Head to Central Park to participate in a variety of outdoor sports. Last year’s fest offered opportunities to paddle, hike, bike, and climb, watch fishing demonstrations, and visit outdoor gear exhibits. Free, 11am-4pm; the Bandshell Area in Central Park (Enter at 72nd Street), nycparksgov.org (Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks)

SummerStage Kids Festival

June 19- August 21 [All ages] Catch live, outdoor performances with your little ones in parks throughout the five boroughs! With over 100 free performing arts events in over 30 parks, the SummerStage Kids Festival introduces NYC kids and families to local, national, and international arts and culture through a diverse lineup of performing artists—including mesmerizing dance, storytelling, acrobatic, music, and theatre performances. Free, times and locations vary, cityparksfoundation.org (Photo by Durst Breneiser)

City of Water Day Festival

July 16 [All ages] Hop on a boat at the 9th annual City Of Water Day Festival! This family-friendly event takes place along the New York and New Jersey waterfront. As the region’s largest harbor festival, the celebrations span from Governors Island to Maxwell Place Park in Hoboken, NJ, and dozens of other locations in the New York Harbor. Enjoy free boat tours on small and large vessels, including tall ships and tugboats; kayak, paddle, and row; and be sure not to miss the Children’s Activities Fair and Waterfront Activity Fairs, which are lots of fun for the whole family. Free, 10am-4pm; various locations, 212-935-9831, waterfrontalliance.org (Photo by Ian Douglas)

Animation Block Party

July 28-31 [Ages vary based on the event] Celebrate all-things animated at the Animation Block Party, the largest animation festival on the East Coast. Cartoon fans can expect to see student, professional, and independent animated films of all genres. This year, the festival will include Animation Features screenings for kids at 2pm on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 at BAMcinématek. Opening Night at Rooftop Films at Brookfield Place is free and open to the public, and will also be kid-friendly. The fest’s complete schedule will be released on June 24.Ticket prices and vary; screenings will be held at BAMcinématek, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn; and at the Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, animationblock.com (Image courtesy of Animation Block Party)

38th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Midsummer Powow at Queens County Farm Museum

July 29-31 [All ages] Stop by the Queens County Farm Museum for the 38th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Midsummer Powow! As the largest and longest running powwow in New York City, visitors can expect a large traditional celebration full of food, vendors, and performances! Typically, 35-40 different tribes are represented in this American Indian celebration. Catch the lighting of the bonfire on Friday and Saturday evenings! Adults: $11/day, $16/weekend; Children (12 & under): $5/day, $7/weekend; Free for Farm Members, gates open at 6pm Friday and 10am Saturday and Sunday. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, Queens, 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org (Photo courtesy of QCFM)

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

August 6-7 [All ages] This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in NYC! Dragon boats are traditional Chinese boats that are powered by a crew of around 20 people. Typically, a drummer leads the team as the drumbeat helps the crew synchronize their strokes. Watch a multitude of different dragon boat races and traditional music and dance performances from around the world at the Dragon Boat Festival. The opening day parade takes place on Saturday, August 6, at noon. Free, times vary. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, 718-767-1776, hkdbf-ny.org (Image courtesy Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival)

New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park

August 6-October 2 [All ages] Mingle with court jesters, fair maidens, and feudal lords at the New York Renaissance Faire every Saturday and Sunday, as well as Labor Day, from August 6 through October 2. Watch jousting matches and music and dance performances! Gnaw on a turkey leg as you enjoy magic and storytelling performances. Wander around the Artisan Marketplace, where your kiddos can get their face painted and their hair braided. There are even games and rides for the little ones! Adults: $25, Children (ages 5-12): $12, Children 4 and under are free; 10am-7pm. 600 Route 17A, Tuxedo Park, NY, 845-351-5171, renfair.com (Photo by Sarah Fields via renfair.com)

FringeJr Festival

August 12-28 [Ages 5-12] Now in its 20th year, the New York International Fringe Festival boasts over 1,000 performances, 200 shows, and spans 16 days. Now your kids can join in on the fun! Bring your little ones to see new theatrical works at FringeJR, FringeNYC’s offshoot for the whole family. Take your kiddos to see new musicals, plays, and comedies at this celebrated indie theater festival. Ticket pricing and showtimes vary and are TBD. Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (at 1st Avenue), fringeNYC.org (Image via timeout.com)